Start as you mean to go on – Protein for breakfast key to weight loss: report

15 Jan 2018 --- Eating more protein, especially at breakfast, could be the key to achieving healthy weight loss, according to a new report released by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The report, Protein Balance: New concepts for protein in Weight Management, aims to highlight the benefits of the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet for weight control and notes that the latest scientific evidence supports eating at least 25 grams of protein at each main meal to control hunger and enhance muscle metabolism.

The new Total Wellbeing Diet Protein Balance program focuses on shifting more protein consumption to breakfast as this would allow for the reduction of your waistline without leaving you ravenously hungry and craving unhealthy foods. 

For most Australians, protein intake was skewed towards the evening meal, with only small amounts eaten at breakfast, according to CSIRO. On average women consumed 11g of protein at breakfast, compared to the male average of 15g. The report also found that older Australians consumed the least amount of protein at breakfast while in fact they need more protein to prevent muscle loss.

“The average Australian eats much lower amounts of protein at breakfast, so increasing breakfast protein may help to control eating later in the day,” says Professor Manny Noakes, Senior Principal Research Scientist for CSIRO and co-author of the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet. “The scientific evidence supports a higher protein diet, combined with regular exercise, for greater fat loss. Eating at least 25g of protein at main meals can assist with hunger control.”

According to the report, Australians get over one-third of their dietary protein from low-quality sources such as processed foods, instead of whole protein sources including lean meats, fish, eggs, legumes and dairy. Adopting a higher protein, moderate carbohydrate, low GI diet is a nutritious way to lose weight and has been scientifically validated for some time, underpinning programs such as the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet.

The innovation to the Total Wellbeing Diet online program will provide a new approach to the timing of eating protein and includes new recipes that provide 25g of protein into every meal, which may make a substantive difference for people who want to kick-start a healthier new year.

Innova Market Insights notes that with +28 percent CAGR reported in products with an “added protein” or “high/source of protein” positioning from 2012-2016, the trend towards the inclusion of protein in new product development remains strong.